Main Events ·Timothy’s reaction to the birthday party indicates that he is a shy and quiet boy. ·Discussion on Timothy’s present brings out Edwin’s character and Matthew’s character ·The dilemma indicates the conflict between justice and friendship that Matthew is facing.
Characterization Process Writing Assignment – Draft 2
“Tomorrow is Timothy’s birthday! Timothy’s mother is going to bring a big chocolate mousse cake and some chicken wings to celebrate Timothy’s birthday during recess. I’m sure that Timothy would appreciate it if you could bring a present for him.” Mr Lim announced just before the lesson ended.
“Woohoo!” Hoots of delight filled the classroom as everyone looked at Timothy. Just like his nickname, Mr Tomato, Timothy blushed as red as a tomato and hid his head in the book that he was reading.
Time flew, and soon, it was recess time. Everyone was discussing what to get for Timothy.
Edwin with a Nike football in his hand, walked in and said “Lets play football first, we will discuss this later.”
Edwin always had the newest football shoes and balls. Every recess, we would play together against the other classes. We were the best team in the whole school. After playing a match, we started discussing what present we should get for Timothy.
“Why don’t we give him a book? He is such a nerd and he is always reading a book.” Bryan suggested.
“No, why don’t we give him some tomatoes? I heard that he likes tomatoes and he also blushes like a tomato!” Thomas said jokingly.
“I’ve got a better idea! We will give him tomatoes but in a special way!Lets give him a tomato bath, since he loves it so much. He shall have it through water guns and tomato sauce. The latter is sponsered by me! Bring your water guns! ” Edwin ordered excitedly.
“We should not do this. We will hurt Timothy! It is just like bullying!” I exclaimed disapprovingly.
“It would not hurt him. He will not get injured. He will only get a little bit dirty. There is no problem at all. It’s just for the fun of it! Don’t be a coward, Matthew!” Edwin retorted.
“I still don’t think that this is the right thing to do.” I muttered under my breath.
“You better not betray us and tell anyone about our plan or I will kick you out of the team!” Edwin said sternly.
Under the steely stare of Edwin’s eyes, I nodded silently and mumbled “OK.”
That night, I pondered whether I should tell Mr Lim about Edwin’s plans and stop Edwin.
“It is all right. It is just for the fun. Nothing will happen to Timothy.” One voice in my head said.
“No! It is just like bullying. You have to tell Mr Lim and stop Edwin.” Another voice said.
These two voices had been drumming in my head the whole night and I did not know which one to answer.
If I told on Edwin, Edwin and my friends would not want to be my friends anymore as they would feel that I had “betrayed” them. However, if I did not tell on Edwin, poor Timothy would get humiliated on his own special birthday and I would have to live with the guilt of not preventing Timothy from getting humiliated. I don’t know. I really don’t know what to do. I wish that I was never in this situation.
The next day, I did not bring my water gun to school. Edwin and my friends were in the toilet busily filling their water guns with tomato sauce. They hid their water guns in the toilet.
Edwin saw me peeking at them and asked fiercely “Where is your gun?”
“I… I forgot to bring it.” I stammered uncontrollably.
“You better not do anything that you will regret for life!” Edwin shouted at me.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” A loud chorus came from the boys in the classroom. They were all crowding around a big chocolate birthday cake. Timothy’s face was full of joy and happiness. In the corner of my eye, I saw Edwin and my friends sneak quietly out of the classroom. At that moment, my conscience told me that I would not let Edwin’s excuse of fun ruin Timothy’s birthday. I have to tell Mr Lim now or it would be too late! I quickly ran to Mr Lim and told him about what Edwin was about to do. Just as Mr Lim was about to go and look for Edwin, Edwin charged in with my friends behind him.
“Here’s your present, Mr Tomato!” Edwin shouted as he charged into the classroom with his group of goons.
“Stop what you are doing! I know what you are going to do!” Mr Lim shouted. Mr Lim was too late and streams of red tomato sauce squirted out of their water guns. The whole classroom was covered in tomato sauce. Tomato sauce dripped from Timothy’s face and onto the floor. Everyone started roaring in laughter at the sight of Timothy's tomato sauce covered face. Mr Lim’s already red face turned purple and he dragged Edwin and my friends out of the classroom.
They glared at me in anger as they were dragged out of the class by Mr Lim. Their glares were like sharp pins poking into me. I hurriedly looked away to avoid looking at them.
Timothy was crying quietly in the corner of the classroom, wiping tears and tomato sauce away from his face with a tissue. Occasionally, he would stare at me. When I looked at him, he would quickly turn his eyes away but I could still see his eyes burning in anger and shame.He was ashamed that such a thing would happen on his special day, yet angry as he probably knew that I had known what would happen, yet did not tell the teacher in time.
After the incident, whenever I see Timothy, I would feel sad and guilty for not telling Mr Lim earlier and letting Timothy get humiliated in front of the whole class. I cannot forgive myself. Perhaps I should have tried harder to persuade Edwin not to do it. I should have told Mr Lim earlier. I should have told Timothy about Edwin’s plans. I should have… Even as tens of possiblitiesNevertheless, I cannot change what has happened.
Sitting in the corner of the parade square reading my storybook, I was watching Edwin and his friends playing football in the parade square while letting yelps of delight as they scored a goal. They had obviously put the matter out of their mind and had forgotten about it.A sense of loneliness overwhelmed me. I wished that I had acted differently in the whole incident and the outcome would not have to be like this.
Timothy
· Shy
· Quiet
· Studious
Matthew
· Sense of right and wrong
· Treasures friendship
· Indecisive
· Cowardly
Edwin
· Naughty
· Clever
· Creative
· Fun-loving
· Authoritative.
· Fierce
Main Events
· Timothy’s reaction to the birthday party indicates that he is a shy and quiet boy.
· Discussion on Timothy’s present brings out Edwin’s character and Matthew’s character
· The dilemma indicates the conflict between justice and friendship that Matthew is facing.
Characterization Process Writing Assignment – Draft 2
“Tomorrow is Timothy’s birthday! Timothy’s mother is going to bring a big chocolate mousse cake and some chicken wings to celebrate Timothy’s birthday during recess. I’m sure that Timothy would appreciate it if you could bring a present for him.” Mr Lim announced just before the lesson ended.
“Woohoo!” Hoots of delight filled the classroom as everyone looked at Timothy. Just like his nickname, Mr Tomato, Timothy blushed as red as a tomato and hid his head in the book that he was reading.
Time flew, and soon, it was recess time. Everyone was discussing what to get for Timothy.
Edwin with a Nike football in his hand, walked in and said “Lets play football first, we will discuss this later.”
Edwin always had the newest football shoes and balls. Every recess, we would play together against the other classes. We were the best team in the whole school. After playing a match, we started discussing what present we should get for Timothy.
“Why don’t we give him a book? He is such a nerd and he is always reading a book.” Bryan suggested.
“No, why don’t we give him some tomatoes? I heard that he likes tomatoes and he also blushes like a tomato!” Thomas said jokingly.
“I’ve got a better idea! We will give him tomatoes but in a special way!Lets give him a tomato bath, since he loves it so much. He shall have it through water guns and tomato sauce. The latter is sponsered by me! Bring your water guns! ” Edwin ordered excitedly.
“We should not do this. We will hurt Timothy! It is just like bullying!” I exclaimed disapprovingly.
“It would not hurt him. He will not get injured. He will only get a little bit dirty. There is no problem at all. It’s just for the fun of it! Don’t be a coward, Matthew!” Edwin retorted.
“I still don’t think that this is the right thing to do.” I muttered under my breath.
“You better not betray us and tell anyone about our plan or I will kick you out of the team!” Edwin said sternly.
Under the steely stare of Edwin’s eyes, I nodded silently and mumbled “OK.”
That night, I pondered whether I should tell Mr Lim about Edwin’s plans and stop Edwin.
“It is all right. It is just for the fun. Nothing will happen to Timothy.” One voice in my head said.
“No! It is just like bullying. You have to tell Mr Lim and stop Edwin.” Another voice said.
These two voices had been drumming in my head the whole night and I did not know which one to answer.
If I told on Edwin, Edwin and my friends would not want to be my friends anymore as they would feel that I had “betrayed” them. However, if I did not tell on Edwin, poor Timothy would get humiliated on his own special birthday and I would have to live with the guilt of not preventing Timothy from getting humiliated. I don’t know. I really don’t know what to do. I wish that I was never in this situation.
The next day, I did not bring my water gun to school. Edwin and my friends were in the toilet busily filling their water guns with tomato sauce. They hid their water guns in the toilet.
Edwin saw me peeking at them and asked fiercely “Where is your gun?”
“I… I forgot to bring it.” I stammered uncontrollably.
“You better not do anything that you will regret for life!” Edwin shouted at me.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” A loud chorus came from the boys in the classroom. They were all crowding around a big chocolate birthday cake. Timothy’s face was full of joy and happiness. In the corner of my eye, I saw Edwin and my friends sneak quietly out of the classroom. At that moment, my conscience told me that I would not let Edwin’s excuse of fun ruin Timothy’s birthday. I have to tell Mr Lim now or it would be too late! I quickly ran to Mr Lim and told him about what Edwin was about to do. Just as Mr Lim was about to go and look for Edwin, Edwin charged in with my friends behind him.
“Here’s your present, Mr Tomato!” Edwin shouted as he charged into the classroom with his group of goons.
“Stop what you are doing! I know what you are going to do!” Mr Lim shouted. Mr Lim was too late and streams of red tomato sauce squirted out of their water guns. The whole classroom was covered in tomato sauce. Tomato sauce dripped from Timothy’s face and onto the floor. Everyone started roaring in laughter at the sight of Timothy's tomato sauce covered face. Mr Lim’s already red face turned purple and he dragged Edwin and my friends out of the classroom.
They glared at me in anger as they were dragged out of the class by Mr Lim. Their glares were like sharp pins poking into me. I hurriedly looked away to avoid looking at them.
Timothy was crying quietly in the corner of the classroom, wiping tears and tomato sauce away from his face with a tissue. Occasionally, he would stare at me. When I looked at him, he would quickly turn his eyes away but I could still see his eyes burning in anger and shame.He was ashamed that such a thing would happen on his special day, yet angry as he probably knew that I had known what would happen, yet did not tell the teacher in time.
After the incident, whenever I see Timothy, I would feel sad and guilty for not telling Mr Lim earlier and letting Timothy get humiliated in front of the whole class. I cannot forgive myself. Perhaps I should have tried harder to persuade Edwin not to do it. I should have told Mr Lim earlier. I should have told Timothy about Edwin’s plans. I should have… Even as tens of possiblitiesNevertheless, I cannot change what has happened.
Sitting in the corner of the parade square reading my storybook, I was watching Edwin and his friends playing football in the parade square while letting yelps of delight as they scored a goal. They had obviously put the matter out of their mind and had forgotten about it.A sense of loneliness overwhelmed me. I wished that I had acted differently in the whole incident and the outcome would not have to be like this.